Pages

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Yoga is self-integration

"May you live like the lotus, at home in the muddy water of life"-- JL

My reading today (which was entirely too short-- son #1, woke up son #2 at 5.15am. Hard to beat them up to have any time for "all things spiritual" or even to go to the bathroom alone!) was about being a witness or observing our thoughts, our breath, our actions. I think if I stopped to observe more, I would react less.

Judith replied to my comments about yoga not being the "cure-all"...

"The purpose of yoga is self-integration.

It was created for people who were basically physically, mentally and emotionally healthy.

It was not intended as a cure all for any and all problems we may have.

Sometimes yoga is not the answer...."

To integrate what I teach and practice on the mat with some consistency, essentially living a life with more awareness (Vijnanamaya Kosha, the wisdom body)... is easier said than done. I think it's all too easy to say it but what I am (to my kids, fellow teachers & friends, even strangers) is more important than what I teach on the mat.

Could self-integration begin with that observation?

Some days, I'm still hoping for that quick-fix, cure-all. Ahh, if it were only that easy. But, thank goodness it's not.

Writing Inspriation

Retreat with Grace Yoga Retreats

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” ~Paulo Coelho